WEBVTT CONFISCATED TODAY. >> I HAVE WORKED HERE A LONG TIME. YEARS AGO, IT WAS A SERIOUS ALBUM. IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY HAVE CRACKED DOWN ON IT. COURTIS: THE FEDS ALONG WITH STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES SPENT TWO AND A HALF HOURS AT BUSCH’S COUNTRY CORNER. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WAS IN THE FOOD CASES AT THE FINDLAY MARKET MEAT SHOP. >> WE’RE CONDUCTING A SEARCH WARRANT IN REFERENCE TO A FOOD STAMP TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION. COURTIS: THE INVESTIGATION STARTED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THIS FOOD STAMP BUST CAME AS A SURPRISE TO SHOPPERS AND OTHER WORKERS IN THE MARKET. >> I CAME WALKING UP. I SAW A FEW OFFICERS IN HERE. NOBODY KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WENT TO THE BACK AND SAID HEY DID YOU GUYS SEE THIS. THEN THEY STARTED BRINGING POLICE LINES ACROSS. THEN WE SAW A USDA AND FEDERAL AGENT. COURTI THEY WERE WELL -- >> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND WHAT I’VE SEEN IN YEARS PAST YOU ACCEPT THE EBT CARD SAY $20 AND YOU GIVE $10 BACK IN CASH. COURTIS: BY LATE AFTERNOON THE MEAT STORE WAS BACK OPEN FOR BUSINESS AT LEAST FOR NOW. WE JUST RECEIVED SOME OF THESE DOCUMENTS. DURING THE PAST 18 MONTHS OR SO, THIS INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THAT EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN TRAFFICKING OF THESE BENEFITS IN EXCHANGE FOR CASH. THAT INVOLVES NOT ONLY THE OWNERS OF THIS BUSINESS BUT ALSO SOME OF THE WORKERS HERE WHO HAVE CONTINUALLY AND REPEATEDLY ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL ACTS

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Police served the search warrant around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, and several investigators are on the scene.

According to Adam Johnson, with the Ohio Investigative Unit, the warrant was served following a 1.5-year investigation.

Johnson would not provide specifics of the investigation, but said it was in relation to food stamp trafficking.

"In general, what we're looking for in food stamp trafficking is people who are abusing SNAP benefits with their EBT cards," Johnson said. "If they're selling the cards for money, if they're buying things that they're not supposed to buy – such as alcohol or tobacco – or trafficking the cards, getting money in exchange for benefits."

A worker at Findlay Market said it was a sad day when something this happens

"I've worked here a long time. Years ago it was a serious problem. It was all over the place. They've cracked down on it. It's a shame," Holly Dreyer said.